I saw that work as invaluable because it illustrated that a focus on deep polarization over the level of risk posed by global warming could be distracting from the prospect of taking widely-supported steps that could be taken to address it.

Now the Yale analysts, with partners at Utah State University, have built an illuminating set of maps of American attitudes — right down to the congressional district — on a variety of important questions related to global warming and options for addressing it, including regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant and boosting government spending on research to improve renewable energy technologies. The background science is being published online today in Nature Climate Change.

Here are three mapped data sets (at the state level) that illustrate a vitally important point, to my mind:

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Researchers at Yale and Utah State University have developed maps showing Americans' views on global warming and related questions.Credit Yale University

First, most states are in the pastel middle ranges in terms of voters reporting that they are worried about global warming. That’s a finding that can be interpreted differently, in Rorschach ink blot fashion. But I think it’s most meaningful considered in the context of Gallup findings showing global warming still at the bottom of environmental concerns. The bottom line is a “meh” finding, as my younger son’s generation might say.

But now look at the breadth of support across the United States for using pollution regulations to curb carbon dioxide, the main human-generated greenhouse gas:

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Voters in every state supported regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant in 2014, according to a new study.Credit Yale University

And finally, there’s even greater support for increasing government investments in research improving renewable energy sources:

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A new study found strong support across the country for federal funding of research into renewable energy in 2014.Credit Yale University

I recommend you do your own sifting at the “Yale Climate Opinion Maps” link. There’s much more in a helpful news release, including background on the modeling behind the distillation of thousands of survey responses. (The release notes that the funding for this project came from a variety of climate-concerned foundations.)

When you’re done sifting, click back to the slides I created drawing from a 2009 survey by the Yale and George Mason team that makes the same point I’ve highlighted above:

Of course, it’s a long path from such findings toward getting legislation or research money through a Congress still hijacked by deeply partisan forces. That’s one reason I don’t tend to focus on Washington as the source of salvation when it comes to new energy menus. But it doesn’t hurt to recognize that there is hope.

I will note one area where the study shows hope is slim, at best — in the idea of a carbon tax, even one in which all revenue is returned to households.

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A study of American attitudes on climate and energy showed an almost uniform lack of support for a carbon tax in 2014, even if the proceeds were returned to consumers.Credit Yale University

While a host of economists and many of my friends still see this option as the most rational approach, it is very hard to see how one could build the necessary political base for pursuing it — which presumably is one reason President Obama is going with regulation.

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By 2050 or so, the human population is expected to pass nine billion. Those billions will be seeking food, water and other resources on a planet where humans are already shaping climate and the web of life. Dot Earth was created by Andrew Revkin in October 2007 -- in part with support from a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship -- to explore ways to balance human needs and the planet's limits.